Tag: quilting cotton fabric

Sew excited here (pun intended) to be writing about my very first Sew Chic pattern project – the Starter Skirt.

First time touching a Sew Chic pattern!

You see, I have been amassing Sew Chic patterns for probably over a year now with the Tia dress as my first purchase. Recently, I found out the owner/designer, Laura Nash has made herself available on FB via a creative sewing group dedicated to Sew Chic pattern projects. Truly, it is thrilling for me and good business sense on her part to be available this way. Her warm, friendly personality inclined me to purchase (and continue to purchase) Sew Chic patterns. As a matter of fact, the Petticoat shall be next to join my collection.

Lyric’s Sew Chic Pattern Collection

Psst, we hear Laura is working on a new design to debut early fall, I think. Try as we might she is not letting the cat out of the bag much on this story.

With all the buzz at our lovely FB group I was itching to do some stitching of a Sew Chic pattern. So, I decided on the Starter Skirt and shopped my stash to make a wearable muslin. Ahh, this will do nicely and I have enough yardage. Kinda sorta.

Still in the works. Bedsheets and table cloths sure make nice circle skirts.

My no-name serger was used for the first time. Yay! Boy had I forgotten the joys of electronic sewing. Many of you know we used to live off grid last year before relocating here.

The panels of this baby went together lickety split with the serger. The skirt went together like a dream. I really must give her a name and soon. Sally Serger is goofy. Any suggestions?

The Starter Skirt pattern is a level 2 (I think); great for beginners. The 12-gore view tickled my fancy this time along with the wide waistband from the other view. I like the wide waistbands to have something for my cinch belt to cling to. I should be embarrassed to share that I sometimes do not add hooks, eyes, or buttons because they would be concealed by the belt anyway. I know, do better Lyric.

It seems with each if my projects there is a glitch. This one was no different. There was not quite enough bedsheet for this skirt. I believe this one was for a double sized bed. As it turned out there was only a corner of the pattern piece that was not covered. A 20″ narrow triangular shape piece of sheeting to fill the area did the trick. Since this is a full skirt the area is concealed where I sewed that patch of a corner. Way to go for a $2.00 skirt especially considering I just laid $35-$40 for a Moda by Sandy Gervais cotton to make my next Starter Skirt. Note: I combined two project posts – my Starter Skirt toile (the green and white skirt) and the second one the pretty Moda fabric skirt.

Wrap-up:

The Starter Skirt is easey peasey to make. I thoroughly enjoyed working with this Sew Chic pattern and look forward to additional projects by that indie designer. I even learned a new technique with sewing the waistband part.

Let me give you a heads up. In June, Laura Nash is hosting a Fantasia Sew-A-Long. It begins June 6 and is going to be heapa buncha informative. So get your hiney on over to Facebook and check us out.

The Dottie Angel frock is country chic at its best. When I first saw this pattern it was love at first sight. We were living on a homestead in the South trying to build a small family farm and it spoke to me. Simply perfect for a house dress to be worn while doing chores and even while chillaxing at home. Even the hubby liked it (which makes sense because he likes homely looking dresses). This dress screams “homely”; don’t you think?

As one who enjoys repurposing this is a good project for a bed sheet design. I am curious as to what this will look like on a granny such as myself. Tickles and giggles! When we first arrived at our new home I purchased a pair of black ankle boots. A photograph with this frock and those boots out by the woods should will be interesting. As for Spring/Summer wear I have a pair of silver thong sandals that put me in the mind of Birkenstock knock-offs that I think will be cute paired with this dress on a sunny day!

Somehow getting the hint that the Dottie Angel is a big deal I Googled to see what I could find. “House On Hill Road” was one of the sites that featured the Dottie Angel. Apparently there is information on Pinterest too though I have yet to visit them. The pattern reviews that I did read indicated the instructions to not be on point with confusing steps which make the construction of this dress needlessly difficult. Ay yi yi! The dress looks so basic on the envelope. I decided to read over the instructions for myself before cutting into fabric.

I confess – I will not be making a toile. I will; however, tissue fit and check the tuck placements along with checking for appropriate length. Mine must be below the knee even while sitting.

The dress employs french seams and bias tape up the wazoo. Get this — the tape is on the inside; no one will see it except me. Oh, I guess you will because if I am going to do all of that for a simple house/work frock I am going to at least take a shot of my handiwork to show you, LOL. Maybe I have a crazy colour in my stash. So, I think I will make this dress as instructed by the Simplicity people this time and see how it goes. Perhaps subsequent (and there will assuredly be some) Dottie Angels may undergo Sew Lyrically styled adjustments.

Okay, so here’s the deal. Since it has been so long since I blogged I did not want you to think I had fallen off the world. Been busy relocating and looking for work. My original plan was to blog about the entire project now; but, guess what? I left the cord for my digital camera at home and can not upload the photographs of the fabric chosen for this project. Therefore, my experience with this dress will be a near future blog post.

I will share this, finally I shopped my stash. It is always so cool when I read you ladies “shopping your stashes”. 🙂 The two larger pieces are bed sheets, the pocket (small piece of fabric) is a quilting cotton. Now, here’s hoping I have suitable bias tape for I do not feel like going through the rigamaroll of making some for this project.

To keep us all eagerly anticipating the Sew Lyrically styled Dottie Angel, let’s check out some other gals’ frocks.

My sister asked me to show her how to make a circle skirt. I am excited as well as honored to have been asked!

Not wanting to wait I began discussing basic sewing principles a couple of weeks ago with her. In our humid climate I suggested cotton or cotton blend fabrics. I can’t wait to see what she chooses. Not too long ago I found a pair of pinking shears for asteal. A nice tool to start out her sewing kit. Plus, pinking is a nifty vintage seam finish technique, yes!

First things first; gotta get those measurements!

She’s such a nifty girl and even thought my Tabitha (1925 hand crank sewing machine) was cool. I have read these are great to learn on because the student is better able to control speed.

First of all I get to spend an afternoon with a beautifully positive, spiritual-minded young lady with whom I have the pleasure of serving the most high God Jehovah, in the full time service as Pioneers. Sewing, as a skill, is something we may use on into the new system; how useful!

Sissy and I share a love of vintage styling. She’s made an excellent choice for a first project? Not to mention she will be absolutely darling in her circle skirts. I suggested we “beast it” and knock out two or more for this her first project.

Baby girl decided to start out with one skirt though. Bless her heart she purchased fabric from expensive Hobby Lobby (we’re plain folk down this way living on modes sums) and they took all her money. Phooey on them! Big Sister has got to tell her about the apps where she may get sewing related discounts.

Sending a special shout out of thanks to Sunset Happy Glow, our sister who lovingly took all the photographs of our afternoon sewing soiree. And where would I have been without Gulf Coast’s Daughter who provided a special treat for me – bean pie! Not one, but two mind you. One was to be mine to take home but guess what!!! Sweet Pea here and Sunset Happy Glow did not tell me that one of the pies was mine to keep – they ate it!

But I’m aiiight!!!

Seriously, I hope to see her this weekend in her very first circle skirt creation. Perhaps she will grace us with a stylish photo.

This day goes down as one of the best. Now, on to my own circle skirt to wear this weekend along with a Bree top (which is simply a good old-fashioned peasant blouse, LOL).

My ties were done sew wrong. Again, I simply misread/didn’t see the instructions. After I found them they were quite easy to understand.

An aside: The big four pattern companies have ruined what could have been a great sewist I tell ya.

With their pattern instructions all in order and even numbered. Oh, and we won’t even talk about the lightweight tissue paper pieces all marked and notched telling sewist wanna-bes exactly where pieces are supposed to meet. The nerve of them.

In printing my pdf I used photocopy paper . . . thick as all get out (which I kinda thought was good, kinda sorta); though a tad cumbersome. When I printed the first set of instructions I didn’t think about it being coloured and I did not want to deplete her ink, then the printer jammed a bit. So, I wound up printing elsewhere. Additionally, I found separate skirt instructions on Loran’s site that I didn’t realize existed and needed to print. Duh!

Some of the instructions I printed were double-sided, others were not. Some were coloured, others were black and white. Now, while that is probably not a big deal, remember, you’re reading Lyric’s blog. The lady born feet first who does many things “bass ackwards” as my mamma used to say. When it comes to the sew-a-long I will reprint the instructions, one-sided, thank you very much.

Moving on from bodice construction to the skirt . . . if you think the bodice was a comedy of errors, wait till you hear what happened while putting together the skirt. Now mind you, I stand by the fact that this project is easey peasey, LOL.

There is 3.5″ of fabric beyond the edge of the bodice! On both sides! Shoot, I am simply going to fold the whole shebang back and keep it moving! I did measure the waist area of the skirt pattern piece. It dawned on me that I did NOT fold the darts in and measure the paper pattern bodice pieces before cutting them out or I would have seen the discrepancy. I did measure the waist area of the skirt section and it was perfect for my waist.

3.5″ folded back

FYI, I was sent the size 36/38 pattern. The cutting lines between the two sizes is negligible, IMHO. So, I’m still scratching my head at the waist/facing discrepancy. The only thing I am coming up with is that the bodice is/was not as long as the skirt’s waist. For I did measure the skirt but did not measure the bodice. Again, I’m cracking up at all my faux pas (er ah, did I spell that correctly?)

For the sew-a-long I’ll trace the bodice onto tissue paper, elongate the ends, and deepen the armscyce.

Armscyce too tight!

Try as I might I can’t seem to get away from wanting a red and white polka dot dress like the original. Not so much because I don’t have imagination but by golly ’cause they are two of my favourite color combinations!

Maybe between now and the sew-a-long something else will catch my eye, but for now my name is written all over a correctly done version.

Thank you all for hanging in there with me during this dress construction. Now, what I need from you in an honest critique. It won’t hurt my feelings. I’d rather now than when I get my fashion fabric of choice! Plus, I’m trying to grow as a sewist.

Project Wrap-Up:

In General: The pattern has only three pieces – a dream to make up quickly. I would venture to say this dress may be made in one afternoon. The biggest thing I would possibly change is making the instructions into one file (which will probably be done for the SAL). The pro tips Loran added were on point. I am grateful for them.

For Me: The bodice will have to be lengthened to match the skirt and wrap around my waist properly. The armscyce will be deepened as I do not want to tie the shoulder ties differently thereby making the girls covered less; i.e., adjusting the ties may lower the armscyce but that effects how much my bust is covered (or not). Also, I am thinking of lengthening the skirt. For this project I only did a 1″ hem, the instructions called for 1.5″ and I believe I would like that better, but I do not want to lose length in the process.

See you all at the sew-a-long! Oh, and don’t forget to write your comments and constructive criticisms below. Thanks again for visiting and hanging in there with me.

It’s 4:56 p.m. and I have just opened and perused my very first Sew Chic pattern. Welcome to my impromptu Sew Chic Pattern Company Review. Yes, the Miss Tia Dress, #LN1312 made her way to the Sew Lyrical She Shack (the beat up park model trailer which will single-handedly someday, somehow be transformed into my she cave, my Diva Den, my sewing haven). Yet, I digress.

Can you be proud of someone you’ve never even met? That’s how I feel about Ms. Laura Nash, the owner, designer, pattern maker dare I say it, brains and beauty behind Sew Chic Pattern Company. First of all, I received a personal email from Ms. Nash after I ordered the pattern and she had shipped Miss Tia telling me that I was the proud owner! Talk about raising anticipation for a parcel!

Now, today, I opened my package and VOILA! Let’s start from the outside. The pattern is packaged in a zip lock bag which is needed around our Hip Hillbilly Farm (i.e., the house). The colourful artwork is crisp and lovely and includes a photo of the frock on a live model in addition to a coloured sketch (is that what it’s called?) The sizes are all inclusive (2-18), yippee, according to envelope measurements it’ll fit even me!!

The tissue paper is white, easy to read, and is thicker than the other pattern companies’ paper. I like it. Oh, before I forget, Ms. Nash includes a Fabric Conversion Chart in a nice card stock. Now how nifty that little token of appreciation is! For double safe keeping I have placed mine in a page protector and will have to think of somewhere clever to keep it for reference. I will probably copy, reduce one for reference and keep it with me for fabric shopping excursions.

Oh, also included in the parcel is an invitation to her sew-along of Simplicity pattern #1061 which I purchased months ago not even knowing about Sew Chic. It was for fall of 2015, and I can imagine the fun all had who participated.

The style simply spoke to me. My new sewing buddy and I purchased it together. Now I really am excited about sewing it up. Wonder if Sew Chic has other patterns over at Simplicity?

Oh, last but not least the $10.00 discount on Ms. Nash’s Craftsy class makes me wish we weren’t off the electrical grid so I could have Internet access at home and take advantage of the offer, LOL.

Back to the pattern . . . the instructions are in booklet form. Yesssss! I have hardly cracked it open and love it already. How concise and easy to use, not all large and cumbersome like the other pattern companies instructions. I love it.

I believe a bona fide toile for the bodice versus a wearable muslin is what will happen. I want this frock to fit me like white on rice. As usual the skirt instructions read easey peasey. They say most patterns are designed for a “B” bust. I am a “DD”. Therefore, I’ll tissue fit this princess seamed bust section and go from there.

Sew Chic has a skirt and short jacket with my name written all over it. Can you say, Spin Skirt? Meanwhile, stay tuned for a Lyrically styled Tia Dress.

After asking advice on what to wear to a retirement party next year (casual) Beccie, of Sew Retro Rose suggested I wear, among other things, a circle skirt. I have seen them on other “curvy” gals and they look fine but I have always mentally shied away from ME wearing one. I reasoned no 46″ hipped grannie should be sporting a circle skirt in public.

Lyrically styled stretch belt

Well, I have been advised to stop the madness and go for it by some of my international sewing buds. Sew, yesterday I decided to make a full circle skirt for an important meeting this afternoon. To my stash I went. Pink, black, and white is one of my new “things”. When I saw this cotton, at Wal-Mart nonetheless, I had to have it.

All the gals seems to wear a stretch belt with their circle skirts so I’ve been pricing them for some months. While $10.00 ain’t bad I made this one for way less. 🙂 Smiling at myself. Now I need to find 3″ elastic in pink and red to complete my stretch belt wardrobe.

All I need now is crinoline in black, red, and white. The Malco Modes one I have is way too poofy for everyday wear, IMHO. Thus, I would like to get a MM one that is not quite as full as the one I currently own.

Sew, what do you think? Should the full circle skirt remain in my wardrobe?

When I saw this fabric a couple of weeks ago I just had to have it. I wanted to make a 50s style dress for a trip to New York trip but couldn’t swing the money for enough yardage. A skirt then to the rescue. This is a second Sew Serendipity project for me. One reason I love that book is that it includes tissue patterns; yay!

It took all of two days to make the skirt. It’s amazing what one can accomplish when focused, LOL. Of course for those two days everything else went to heck in a hand basket as I worked feverishly to complete the skirt by Wednesday. We won’t even talk about my quilting cotton jones. I love working with it. Now, if only I could figure out how to keep the colours bright. I am noticing my quilted totes of cotton look dull even after one wash.

In-seam side pockets were added. All ladies’ wear should have pockets in my humble opinion.

For some reason I am on a bias-tape kick. Therefore, I enclosed all inside seams with matching cotton, bias tape. My goodness it makes seams oh so neat. I have one or two of the little contraptions for making bias tape. I have read instructions on how to “easily” make my own. But, by golly it reads as a big ole chore. I know I am going to have to master the technique and need to quit procrastinating. Oh, and I used it for the trim and bow tie between the white ruffle and the patterned skirt.

The Sew Serendipity patterns are easy to work with and fun to make. The two skirts that I have made fit me to a tee. What I have been doing is adjusting the waist to fit before sewing the side seams. My waist to hip ratio does not fit the pattern makers standard numbers so I have been cutting out the fabric per the pattern lines; putting on the garment and pinning so that it fits me; then, sewing the side seams. There will definitely be more coming from me and Tabitha. As a matter of fact I would love to tackle the tunic dress pattern included with the book.

There is no counting how many of my shirts and sweaters look like those above. More often than not I simply throw them away or donate them to a thrift store (as if someone else would want them). No more! This year I am going to face these bad boys. So, to the Internet I go to find out just how to lick this problem. The suggestions below are simply collected from various internet sources. The wheel has not been reinvented.

Apparently aluminum in antiperspirant/deodorants is one culprit and chlorine bleach is a big no-no (who knew?). Yesterday I picked up the current fav in my stock, Suave, Baby Powder fragrance and yeppers, 20% of aluminum chlor. Crystal Body Deodorant Stick-4.25 oz to the rescue.

How about this suggestion? Keep a spray bottle of undiluted white distilled vinegar handy and spray the underarm areas before washing. The vinegar will help cut through any deodorant residue and reduce odor.

Stain Removal Option #3 – Hydrogen Peroxide to the Rescue

With white fabrics, 3% hydrogen peroxide is one of the best possible solutions for perspiration stain removal.

Hydrogen peroxide will react with the proteins in the perspiration and break them apart, helping to prevent the gradual darkening of the area over time.

You can use the hydrogen peroxide either full-strength or diluted to half-strength (half water, half hydrogen peroxide). Since less is more, we recommend always starting with half-strength and adding more if necessary.

Pour your hydrogen peroxide solution onto the stain

Allow it to soak for 30 minutes.

Launder on cool and air dry.

If the stain remains, soak it for another 30 minutes in a stronger solution using full strength hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is like chlorine bleach in its whitening properties, but it doesn’t remove color so it’s safe for both white and colored fabrics.

Stain Removal Option #4 – Vinegar and Water

If hydrogen peroxide is not effective for your colored fabric, another option that is also safe is a solution of vinegar and water to clean out stubborn perspiration stains.

Mix 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar and a half-cup of water.

Allow the affected area to soak for 20-30 minutes.

Launder on cool.

Repeat if necessary.

Stain Removal Option #5 – Cream of Tartar and Aspirin

If you just can’t get the stains out with detergent, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar, make a paste using aspirin and cream of tartar and scrub it in with your old toothbrush.

Make sure to use full-strength aspirin and ensure that they’re white and have no colored coating that can stain fabric.

Form a paste:

1 Tablespoon of Cream of Tartar

3 crushed aspirins

1 cup of warm water

Using an old toothbrush:

Work the paste gently into the fabric.

Let the treatment sit on the stain for 20 minutes.

Rinse the affected area in warm water until the paste is completely removed.

Repeat if necessary.

Not too shabby of an idea is to start making and using dress shields:

You all know me. I’m about finding instructions for making my own. Juxtapose to the rescue with a dress shield tutorial. If you just can not fathom the idea of making your own Kleinert’s to the rescue.

Do you have suggestions for removing and preventing underarm stains on clothing? Give us all a heads up in the comment area below.

I’m putting together the fabrics for my upcoming grandbaby’s first rag quilt. Choosing fabrics was more difficult than I had imagined. I am working within a budget which added to my angst. Plus I was determined to NOT make a pink quilt for now. No, no, no. There are myriad of other colors in the spectrum. This ladybug design is just sew cute. It’s only a fat quarter but I had to get it. The rest of the quilt is being designed around this ladybug fat quarter.

Pieces coming together!

This pretty purple cotton flannel will be used in the place of batting. I read that somewhere; or no, it was suggested to me over at Missouri Start Quilt Forum. It will look pretty in the seams peeking out all fuzzy.

A deeper purple would have been nice. This one was muted which I didn’t determine from looking at it on my computer screen before purchase.

I underestimated the size. It looked so nice and big when laid out on the table. Duh, I didn’t consider the seams! Sew, I had to purchase additional fabric to make the quilt a decent size.

I MUST get a better35mm camera for blogging. It’s official, the one I have won’t do. I will actively work to get a better photograph of this quilt up on my blog. It really is cute. Think I’ll add some close-ups too.

Ms. Kara states to wash the quilt and dry it in a hot dryer twice. I am thinking it has to do with the strings and things that I’ve been pulling off the quilt, LOL. I’ve only done so once in the photograph above. I’ll be sure to wash and dry it again before sending if off to my daughter.

Baby Rag Quilt Rear View

I’m not going to point out the myriad of other things I see. Still, it was my first quilting project ever and I know Baby Grandbaby won’t care. This quilt was fashioned last spring before her June arrival. I am just now getting around to pulling quilting and crochet articles from this blog’s predecessor “Sew Cro and Quilt” to here. Thanks for looking.

I am going to ask my girl, Miss Susie about this find. I am sure she can share valuable information about it. The plan is to replace the netting and if the stars align perhaps I can wear it to the Memorial Celebration in April.